The Visionary Chronicles

The Visionary Brand | Premium Positioning | Finding your Brand Positioning

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: January 18th, 2023
 
"Just say NO to COMMODITY!"
                                                                   Tom Peters, The Circle of Innovation
 
Content from…
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands
Readers Favorite Award Winner! Top Non-fiction, Marketing Genre Business Book
Amazon Bestseller!
 
Premium Positioning | Finding your Brand Positioning
Positioning is a cornerstone piece of defining your brand strategy. Having described your brand's position in the marketplace, you will have determined your point of difference vs. your competition, how future products will enter your selected distribution channel, and what type of products will fit into your portfolio.
Each of these foundational questions is part of your positioning strategy. Within each question are deep-rooted answers which will direct your path as you move forward.
With Positioning, you are either premium or commodity, with a sprinkling of some brands in the middle of the road. Defined as "good," "better," or "best," Positioning, your objective should be to be the "best," or at the very least at the top tier of "better," but NEVER "good"! This is where the commodity companies, notice I said commodities and not brands, play, and you do not want to play in the bloody water—too many sharks and not enough food or margin to be successful. Go where the water is clear, and no one fights over scraps. Granted, this is more difficult, as these waters are more vast, but it will support your success long-term. This is why being DIFFERENT is critical to a brand's success, not worrying about competition, and finding ways to stay ahead of the innovation curve and disrupt wherever possible.
When establishing the Positioning for your Brand, several questions must be asked.
What are we Selling?
Who are we Selling to?
Where are we Selling?
How do we want to be Perceived?
Each of these sets a foundation for your Vision to where your brand can travel and what paths are prohibited. Travel down these paths and succeed, veer off course and fail. Your choice!
24/7
With data being consumed by your customers 24/7, how does a brand cut through the clutter? Once you have defined your Positioning, you need to set a cohesive, vertical strategy that allows you to engage with your community, build an authentic audience, and enable them to be a part of your growth. Remember, it is better to have ten authentic ambassadors of your brand than 1,000 who are not committed to supporting your Vision.
With 35-40 touchpoints a day, it is critical to have a set plan, a clear, cohesive strategy understood by all who are empowered to execute its success.
Once you have set your Positioning and determined your 24/7 marketing strategy, it is critical to ensure you stay the course, do not sell out, take shortcuts, or maneuver off course. When a brand decides to pursue these, they end up having to put the brand in reverse, and they also damage community loyalty and the equity of all brands.
So as you set your course, start your Journey, stay True to who you are, define your brand culture, reward those who contribute to your success and never look in the rearview mirror. Keep blazing the path for others to follow.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
 
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
 
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
 @bryansmeltzer
 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 

The Visionary Brand | Brand Positioning | Selling Your Soul

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: January 11th, 2022
 
"I put my heart and my soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process.."
                                                                                                     Vincent Van Gogh
 
Brand Product Positioning | Selling Your Soul
 
Over the years, we have seen brands come and go, each with a different reason for not surviving. But most, if not all, have made the crucial mistake of Selling their Soul.
This happens when a brand has carefully crafted a premium positioning in their respective marketplace and then decided to sell out and move into a channel their loyal customers did not expect or create a product not up to the brand's standards, much less the customer. So you end up Selling Your Soul for either short-term gain in exchange for long-term pain. Being a brand is much a lifestyle translation as it is a product. When you understand this, you know why you alienate your loyal community by cutting corners or putting your product where it does not belong.
The fear of failure can sometimes outweigh common sense, which is devastating when it happens. I am sure there are many times when you ask yourself, "whatever happened to that brand?". Often, Selling Your Soul is a fatal mistake. You are selling your Soul to make a quarter in revenue, move excess inventory, or find a new distribution channel. There is a way for a brand to navigate these waters successfully, but you must not drown in the process.
So what are the Rules for not Selling Your Soul?
Never go somewhere you do not belong. If you are premium, stay premium.
Never make an inferior product. If you are best in class, stay best in style.
Never let someone else out-innovate you. Always out-innovate yourself, not the competition.
 
Each of these points is meant to stop you from losing your Soul as a brand. This is something not given, but it is earned. The trust of your loyal customer, never break this bond.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
 
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2023
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established, mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
You can contact or  follow him at;
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
 @bryansmeltzer
 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 

GUEST | David Meltzer

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: December 13th, 2022
Podcast: Special Guest | David Meltzer
“I haven’t met a single successful person who hasn’t failed miserably.” – David Meltzer 
 
We have a special guest on this week’s Podcast, David Meltzer. David has been a guest across many high-profile media platforms such as Entrepreneur, Ted X, ESPN, and Forbes, where he is a Top 10 Speaker.
These are just a few high-profile media outlets David has been a guest on, too many to mention. In addition, David also hosts the popular shows Office Hours, the Two Minute Drill and is the host of the Playbook Podcast.
His life mission is to empower OVER 1 BILLION people to be happy! I am not sure where David finds the time, but I am glad he is so committed to these principles, as he has impacted so many lives along the way.
David was our guest on The Visionary Chronicles Podcast, and we were able to ask him many intriguing, visionary questions and gain insight into what motivates him. In addition, David provides invaluable advice for Entrepreneurs and life lessons for those going through difficult times. He had achieved success and lost over 100M dollars, but was able to attain generational success again miraculously. Quite a story and we were privileged to have David take the time to tell his story.
Opening
Where did you grow up, and how did that affect whom you became?
Business
Who would you say is a Visionary, and Why?
Visionaries, at some point, are Entrepreneurs. So what’s the most challenging part of being an Entrepreneur?
What would be the one piece of advice you would give to someone just starting on their Entrepreneurial Journey?
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be, and why?
Life
What's the most important lesson you've learned in life?
What is your biggest passion?
What keeps you up at night?
Day to Day
What are you not very good at?
What is your favorite book, and why?
The Playbook Podcast
What made you want to create The Playbook Podcast?
What's your most successful episode, and why do you think you did well?
Ending
What's your favorite quote?
You can find more information on David, his shows, and his podcast at;
DMeltzer.com
Email David at; david@DMeltzer.com
He also provides a FREE Friday Training Course, and you can find out more information at; https://free.dmeltzer.com/friday-training-1
 
Thanks once again to David Meltzer for stopping by The Visionary Chronicles.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
 
 
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., (LiquidMindsite.com) a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
Bryan's Contact Info...
e-mail:  bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
 Facebook: @bryansmeltzer33
Instagram; @bryan_smeltzer
 Twitter: @bryansmeltzer
 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/

Brand Bloodlines | Be The Best

 
 
Podcast: Brand Bloodlines | Be The Best
"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn a reputation by trying to do hard things well."
                                                                                                     Jeff Bezos
Perception becomes a reality, but this reality must be carefully crafted, honed, and managed each day as a true, authentic brand. Challenging, yes, but this is why there are so few premium brands in our world.
By design, to be a brand, you must BE a brand. Being a brand means living a lifestyle representative of what you want your Brand to stand for in the real world. I often quote Ralph Lauren, but his statement is true; "We are NOT selling a product; we ARE selling a Lifestyle." What an enlightening quote that should be shared by all who hope to become a brand at one point.
So these Bloodlines that are the makeup, the DNA of premium brands go well beyond product and must be injected into all aspects of the Brand. You can not be a great, premium brand with a superior product but horrible customer service. The result is an awful experience for your loyal customer and is a clear disconnect to becoming a premium brand. The Bloodlines of an excellent brand stretch into all aspects of your company; operations, finance, customer service, marketing, product, and sales.
A great analogy is Lamborghini, the ultimate car brand that has finely crafted its premium positioning, and everyone knows it, even those who have not purchased their machines. However, as powerful and beautiful as they are, they do not realize the ultimate performance their cars can produce if they are not finely tuned. The experience does not match the messaging, which would be an apparent disconnect.
Be the Best! Good, better, or best, your choice, but if your goal is to be premium, you must commit to being the Best in everything you do. Not just product, but everything! This is a challenge most companies are not committed to, and again why there are so few true, premium brands. Far too many companies overlook the simple things that most customers do not. It is the difference between a four vs. a five-star resort. It makes your customers loyal and provides the "stickiness" to keep them returning. What separates the Good from the Best? It is a relentless, ongoing commitment to the Best at all levels within your Brand and sustaining that as long as the Brand is alive. The foundation is destroyed as soon as you break this link within the Brand.
So what are some of these Bloodline traits to being the Best;
 
Commit to being the best at levels inside your Brand.
Inject a Passion, and set a Vision all can share.
Never take Shortcuts. The storms will pass.
Empower your Teams to Succeed.
Want Premium, be Premium.
 
These are just some areas where Visionary brands have consistently been committed to succeeding within and outside their brands. It is a difficult challenge, but stay committed, be true to your Vision, and you will eventually succeed. Rome was not built in a day, it is a long haul, but the treasure awaits those who are committed to seeing it through.
 
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryChroniclesPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
 
 
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a successful consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
 @bryansmeltzer
 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 

Leadership Formula | The New Leadership Principles

"Leadership is the capacity to translate Vision into reality."
                                                            Life from Warren Bennis
Podcast: Leadership Formula | The New Leadership Principles
The new Leadership Formula is driven by the ability of a leader to motivate their teams to passionately embrace a Vision for the long-term benefit of the brand.
The formula is not about being the nicest leader or someone with a singular compassion for all. It is finding the one who can skillfully understand the needs and motivations of others and turn this into an engine of progress and eventual pride for all. Being a respected leader is the goal, but few achieve this status. Most are either unwilling to be humble enough to share credit, smart enough to know what they don't know, or compassionate enough to understand what drives others vs. themselves.
Knowledge is not what makes great leaders who understand how to empower people and give all the gratitude and praise to others—a leader who embraces others, not themselves. A truly great leader understands that for a Vision to be realized, it must be adopted by all and shared by all until its completion. The Vision is to know that by empowering others, you are empowering yourself to accomplish greater things than you would realize. So take off the cape, understand your limitations and embrace the power of empowering others to succeed!
Understanding everyone has different motivations, and usually low on the list is monetary compensation vs. personal acknowledgment of a job well done. Finding the balance is critical for great leaders, and a mix that maximizes everyone's potential and builds passion across your entire team, everyone working together accomplishing a singular goal.
The new Leadership Formula is comprised of many elements; following are a few;
The Perception vs. Reality; be real, ALL the time. Inevitably you will stop pretending, and trust will be broken.
The Ladder; they help team members climb the Ladder to success, vs. pulling it out from underneath them.
The Development; provide the tools required for others to succeed.
The Social Side; be human. Your team is human; treat them like one. Great leaders are great communicators.
The Orchestra; you are the leader of many, each with a distinct skillset. Help them make beautiful music.
The Pressure; great leaders absorb and distribute Pressure. Ensure you are not unloading on others. Distribute carefully and with purpose.
I am often asked if great leaders are born. This may be both true and false, but I feel inherently great leaders are born with the ability to lead, be compassionate, and absorb Pressure, and the other traits are learned. So the balance is they are born with the required leadership skills.
However, you can understand what is needed to be a great leader, be committed to these traits, be authentic, and be real, and your team will reward you with their loyalty!
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a successful consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
 
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
 @bryansmeltzer
 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 

Goals | How to Set Goals and Realize Your Vision

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: November 17th, 2022
 
"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps..."
                                                                                    Life Wisdom from Confucius
 
Podcast: Goals | How to Set Goals and Achieve Your Vision
With the new year upon us and the past year presenting so many challenges, the ability to set and move ahead with your Goals is imperative. It sets the Future, a Vision that moves us beyond the past and allows us to achieve that which seems unattainable. But how do you effectively set and achieve your goals? Interestingly, I engage with companies and leaders looking for answers to increasing innovation, productivity, or efficiency, each seemingly distinct but separate Goals. There is nothing wrong with this thinking other than the intent should be to tie them all together to improve your brand and teams. However, the realization hits them when they consistently fail and do not embrace the risk required to succeed. These scenarios reflect the real world, where only 8% of those who set goals achieve them.
In my new Visionary Chronicles Podcast, Goals | How to Set Goals and Achieve your Vision, I address this question, providing insightful principles on setting goals properly and executing them through a step-by-step process.
When setting Goals, they must be challenging but attainable. Here are ten proven Principles for assuring Goals are stretched but attainable ;
Change your daily Habits or Routines to enhance productivity. Look at your daily/hourly routine, and disrupt it to find more time.
Be realistic with your Goals, but offer up a Stretch to achieving them. They must be attainable, but only through sweat and failure. Give everyone a sense of accomplishment.
Find support where needed after analyzing your daily Habits/Routine. You can not achieve success consistently without some help…find it.
Take Two Steps Forward and one Step back. The path to Success is not a straight line, step back and evaluate the way forward.
Share Success, Embrace Failure. Failure is your pathway to eventual Success.
Move out of the Status quo to realize your Vision. Break free from Habits, and change your routine to be more effective. Also, don't multi-task; your brain likes to complete one path before moving on to another.
Realize progress, find what works and what does not. Then, do more of what works and less of what does not. Simple but powerful!
Have Faith, know you are not alone—calming influence in turbulent times.
Times change, be ready to make your move. Covid should be a lesson learned when being prepared to Adapt.
Always be moving forward. When you take two steps forward, just do not take three back.
 
Within these principles, you will find roadblocks and barriers to achieving eventual Success. But just stick to your path no matter how rocky. The old cliché holds if it were easy, everyone would do it.
Set definitive goals, change your habits, find support along the way, and have Faith that all things will work together for good.
 
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a successful consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, and Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men's apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
 
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles. In addition, he recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands. He recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI's BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI's Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA's Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and the UCLA Media, Entertainment and Sports programs, and the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
 
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with start-ups and established mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower businesses to think differently, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
 @bryansmeltzer
 linkedin.com/in/bryansmeltzer/
 
 

The Visionary Brand | The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands

The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands
“Exceptionally well written, organized, and presented, The Visionary Brand must be considered essential reading for all aspiring entrepreneurs and corporate executives seeking to expand their market share.
The Visionary Brand is unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, college, university library Business Management instructional reference collections, and for the personal reading lists of entrepreneurs, MBA students, and corporate executives."
                                                            James Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
 
The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World's Most Visionary Brands
When I decided to write The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, I was very fortunate to have been inside some of the world’s most creative, disruptive, and revolutionary brands.
These brands were each different, positioning themselves differently, engaging strategically, creating consistently, understanding why they exist, how they are unique, and building a culture that drives the passion for driving the brand forward. I found each fascinating and having been inside the walls of the executive suite seeing firsthand how these great brands operated was an experience few get to experience and witness. So, this experience, along with having a passion for reading and absorbing how other great brands were able to navigate the path to success for generations effectively, built a great base of knowledge both inside and outside these four walls. These insanely great companies and the leaders behind the curtain, the wizards pulling the brand along and successfully executing a Vision no one else could see or comprehend.
The experience was the inspiration, and this is where the Journey started. Having been with these brands and throughout my years, I found that there truly was no ONE Visionary brand, a company that had all the pieces in place. Some had most, but none had all to achieve this status. So as I prepared to write The Visionary Brand, I wanted it to be an outline of the pieces required to achieve Visionary level. Also, I intended to interpret the content quickly and apply it to your day-to-day and long-term strategy.
In having read hundreds of books, all either Bios of great leaders or disruptive brands, most were told from outside in perspective or academic standpoint. Neither of these is easily applied, nor are they beneficial unless you are a multi-billion brand with significant resources to execute their strategy. Therefore, I wanted to take an Entrepreneurial spin on building the structure of The Visionary Brand, which can be applied with limited resources, brands both big and small and measurement in results.
It has been a passion and longtime goal to write this book, many times wanting to hang up my pen and other times spilling out thoughts that seemed never-ending. Both extremes are why I feel The Visionary Brand is so tangible to leaders at all levels and industries.
You will find a clear, tangible path to understanding, achieving, and realizing the pieces of putting your Visionary brand puzzle together. I intended to make it clear, tangible, and fun to execute individually and as a team. Achieving Visionary status seems intangible to most, and it is meant to be by design. However, if you can acquire insight into building your path to generational success while putting these pieces in place, I will have served my purpose in writing The Visionary Brand!
Inside the cover of The Visionary Brand, you will step by step insight into what an authentic Visionary brand is, how this machine runs, what their point of difference is, and how these tangible and intangible points of difference allow them to crush their Competition.
Journey/Brand
It starts with my Journey to writing the book and then defines what a Brand truly is built from a foundational perspective.
 
Vision/Elements
The book then moves to Vision from the brand and how companies separate themselves through foresight and a product innovation pipeline. I discuss how this revolution is the difference that defines these Visionary brands and how imitators will never be leaders. The elements that set great brands apart and allow them to sustain their category leadership for generations. Disruption, being Different, and Case Studies around each.
 
Positioning/Omni-Channel
From Vision, I move to marketplace positioning and omnichannel strategy. Ensuring you are consistent in all you do, being authentic, ensuring the bloodlines are true to the Vision—strategic competitiveness, Lifestyle marketing, and being the best at ALL times.
 
Power Triad/Culture
Product/Marketing & Sales, the Power Triad. How they drive the brand forward, and how each builds a Culture to be envied by all their competitors.
 
Product Vision/Ecosystem
Breakaway design, innovation pipeline, drawdown strategy, and commercialization. Each a piece of a strategic arsenal brands deploy every day. They were leading through extinction and building an Ecosystem that allows the brands to capture a community and make a Loyal following.
 
Fuel/UX
Marketing is The Fuel that keeps a brand moving forward, executing on the Vision and ensuring its positioning always is consistent and authentic. Personalization and Ambassador engagement are two unique platforms for brands to ensure they continue to build their community, the heart, and soul of DTC revenue. Finally, the UX, empathizing and understanding your customers.
 
Artist/Courage
These are areas rarely discussed, but I felt they were probably the most important to put in my book. Without Artists and Courage, you have neither the creativity to be different to the guts to take risks.
In summary, The Visionary Brand was written for those looking to understand what is significant, being Visionary, being different to sustain long-term success, and what they do to create brand Loyalty. Also, it was written from an inside out perspective, understanding is as much personal, as it is business acumen. Be a Leader, Be a Visionary, Be Compassionate, Be Great!
 
Stay True, stay Authentic, be Different, be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
Bryan Smeltzer, President
LiquidMind Inc.
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
© All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
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LiquidMind
a Brand Strategy Firm for those looking to disrupt their industry, build a global digital platform, business execution leadership, or just need someone who understands your business's complexities and can provide solutions.
 
 
 
 

Failure | Stepping Stone to Success

The Visionary Chronicles Podcast
CHRONICLE: October 26th, 2022
 
"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."
                                                                                         Wisdom from Abraham Lincoln
 
Failure | Stepping Stone to Success
Failure is not fatal, but if you do not embrace Failure and make it a part of your Culture, it can prevent you from realizing your Vision.
Many companies profess to be "Innovative" yet squash any new out-of-the-box thinking that disrupts the status quo of the company and your business category. Therefore, it is crucial to embrace your failures, learn from them, and adapt if you are to move your IDEAs from paper to people.
Commercializing your IDEA is the inevitable goal, but if the product you envisioned does not match reality, there will be issues with your community and the brand itself. If you are to be a leader, you must embrace Failure and Risk to create what others may not have thought of or felt was impossible. Otherwise, you are truly just a commodity. Having the courage to do what is right for the brand is what all Visionaries have in common. Beyond product, beyond Culture, is sticking to your Foundational Principles, which drive your brand forward.
The brands that continually drive innovation embrace Failure as a learning experience and will be the ones to survive any storm. Look at history, and you will see brands that have failed and those who are still with us today. A common thread, stronger than steel, is the will to create what others said was impossible. This challenge brings out the passionate courage in all Visionaries and the satisfaction of proving others wrong. 
Remember Edison's famous quote when inventing the light bulb…
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work…."
Imagine if Edison had given up at so-called "Failure" on try 9,998? A different world than we live in today. Thankful for his Vision and perseverance not to give up!
 
What are these Stepping Stones to Success?
Take Risks; no great product has ever been realized without Risk.
Embrace Risks; different than taking a Risk, is embracing Risk as part of your Culture.
Fail Faster; assume Failure will happen and is necessary to create truly revolutionary products.
Succeed Sooner; by Embracing Risk, and Failure, you are on a path to Success.
Failure is inevitable when creating anything great! So embrace Failure and Risk and be rewarded with generational products and a culture committed to Success.
Stay True, Stay Authentic, be Different, and be Great!
Enjoy the Journey!
 
Bryan Smeltzer, President
 LiquidMind Inc.
#TheVisionaryPodcast
#TheVisionaryBrandBook
 
@LiquidMindsite.com
@BryanSmeltzer.com
 
 © All rights reserved, Bryan Smeltzer, 2022
 
Bryan Smeltzer is a successful consumer products business executive and entrepreneur. He has held executive-level roles in business development, product, and marketing with some of the world's most prestigious brands, including; Oakley, TaylorMade, Adidas, K-Swiss, Schutt Sports, among other international brands. He also founded a men’s apparel brand, successfully running a profitable business for ten years, eventually selling to a VC firm.
He also hosts a Podcast called The Visionary Chronicles, and recently finished his first bestselling book, The Visionary Brand, The Success Formula Behind the World’s Most Visionary Brands, and recently received the prestigious Readers Favorite Award for BEST Non-fiction, Marketing Genre book.
He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at UCI’s BCIE along with their New Venture Program, an Innovation Advisor at the UCI’s Applied Innovation program at the Cove, a Mentor/Advisor to UCLA’s Price Center Venture Accelerator Program, and a Mentor/Advisor at the San Diego Sports Innovators Accelerator (SDSI) center.
Bryan currently oversees LiquidMind Inc., a global brand strategy firm that partners with both start-ups and established, mid to large-cap consumer brands to empower their businesses to think different, be different, drive a passionate culture, and execute relentlessly.
 bryan@LiquidMindsite.com
  @bryansmeltzer33
 @bryan_smeltzer
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